Paul's Death Sentence

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Who wanted Paul dead?
1. Many of the Jews, his former colleagues. In fact, they did see to it that he was stoned. However, "God...raiseth the dead"
2. The Romans, who imprisoned Paul, first in Jerusalem, then Caesarea, then Rome, where they beheaded him. However, "God...raiseth the dead"
3. Satan wanted this man dead. No other human would impact the world in all of history like this Bible thumper. He had to be silenced. And so, he pulled out all the stops. He saw to it that gangs would lynch him, that storms would sink his ship, that magistrates would jail him, that soldiers would beat him. Yet, "God...raiseth the dead"
4. God, Who struck Saul down on the road to Damascus, ended the life of Saul and raised him to be Paul, the Apostle. "God...raiseth the dead"
5. Paul himself, who said, I die daily, I Cor 15:31. But he is also risen daily to allow Christ to live in him. Gal 2:20.
Indeed, "God...raiseth the dead!

Do you have a death sentence hanging over you? Romans 6 teaches us that the old man is to die and be buried and that we are to be risen again to new life in Christ.

Has your witness so angered the devil and his crowd that they could wish you dead?

Do you despise the works of the flesh so much that you make the daily decision to crucify the flesh and live in the Spirit?

Ah, the blessed death sentence. Now that's living!

Enter In - Steve Green

Nothing chills the heart of man
Like passing through death's gate
Yet to him who enters daily
Death's a glorious fate
Dearly beloved we are gathered here
To be a holy bride
And daily cross death's threshold
To the holy life inside

Chorus:
Enter in, enter in
Surrender to the Spirit's call
To die and enter in
Enter in, find peace within
The holy life awaits you, enter in

The conflict still continues
Raging deep within my soul
My spirit wars against my flesh
In a struggle for control
My only hope is full surrender
So with each borrowed breath
I inhale the Spirit's will for me
To die a deeper death

If mourners should lament
Let them weep for those alive
For only when my will is killed
Can my soul survive

2 Cor 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;